Combined cigar cutter and lighter.



PATENTBD JAN. 9, 1906.

W. H. CRAWFORD.

COMBINED CIGAR CUTTER AND LIGHTER.

APPLICATION IILBD MAY 11, 1905.

. WITNESSES.

WILLIAM INVENTOR H- CRAWFORQ- momv' rs UNITED srn'rns PArENT OFFICE.

COMBINED CIGAR CUTTER AND LIGHTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1906 Application filed May 11,1905- Serial No. 259,983.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HENRY CRAW- FORD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cliftonforge, in the county of Alleghany and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Combined Cigar Cutter and Lighter, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in combined cigar cutters and lighters; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same.

In the practical application of my invention I provide a box A, of suitable size and shape, within which is contained the mechanism for operating the cutter and lighter. A hollow support B, of conducting material, as brass, is pivotally mounted in a slot a in the upper face of the box A on trunnions b, journaled beneath the slot, and is provided at its upper end with a burner 1), fed through a wick b from a pyramidal reservoir b containing gasolene or other liquid fuel, attached to the lower end of the support, the front of the support being carried upward to form an electric contact-point If. A column C, of brass or other conducting material, sup ported in an insulating-ring c in the box-top, has an arched portion 0 extending above the support B and provided with a pivoted contact-point c retained yieldingly in place by a plate-spring c and on the opposite face of the end of the column is an insulating-hood c, of hard rubber or other suitable material, for restraining the backward motion of the support and extinguishing the light. A battery-cell D of ordinary construction is arranged within the box, at the rear thereof, and a wire (1 connects one of the poles of the cell to the lower end of the column C, while a second wire (I connects the other pole with one of the terminals of a spark-coil E. A third Wire e connects the other terminal of the coil with the support B, thus forming an open circuit, with the terminal points If and c in juxtaposition. When the support B is swung forward upon its pivot, the contactpoints 12 and 0 brush by each other, making and breaking the circuit, and the spark formed by the break ignites the gasolene in a well-known manner.

The cigar-cutter is arranged in front and to one side of the lighter and comprises a plate F, sliding in the grooves of slide-barsf, attached to the under surface of the box-top and provided with a rectangular opening f, normally registering with a beveled opening a in the box-top and having one of the ends f 2 of the rectangle formed with a cutting edge for coacting with the beveled edge of the opening. A connecting-rod hinged to a depending crank-arm b rigid with one of the trunnions b, and hinged to the cutter-blade F, imparts motion to the support when the cutter-blade is actuated. A rock-shaft G, journaled in bearings g on the end of the box adjacent the opening, is provided with a rearwardly-extending arm g, having an upward extension g carrying a plate g arranged below the opening a and adapted to be depressed by the cigar end to rock the shaft in its bearings. A spring H is secured at one end to a shaft h, journaled in bearings h on the end of the box adjacent the cigar-cutter, and at its other end to a casing h attached to the wheel h on the shaft It, provided with teeth It on its circumference. The teeth of the wheel mesh with the teeth of a pinion 72, on a counter-shaft h, journaled in bearings 7L7, arranged above the shaft h and normally restrained from turning by an arm h engaging a trip g, rigid with and depending from the rock-shaft G. When the plate 9 is depressed by the cigar-tip, the stop g is elevated, releasing the arm 7L8, which in its rev olution strikes a depending arm f on the cutterblade F and forces the blade to the rear, clipping the end from the cigar and through the connecting-rod f rocks the support B forward, igniting the wick.

It is necessary that the lighted wick be held in its forward position for a few seconds and be then released, and to attain the former object I provide a catch I, pivoted to the reservoir b adapted to snap over the crossbar of the support i when the said reservoir is tilted forward. To release the catch, I provide a spring K, secured at one end to a shaft 7r, mounted in bearings 7c on the side of the box, and at its other end to a casing 762, attached to a wheel on the shaft 7c. Teeth k in the periphery of the wheel mesh with the teeth of a pinion k on a shaft I0, mounted in ings 71- on the under face of the box-top.

front of the shaft 7c in bearings 75 on the sides of the box-top. The shaft is is normally re strained from rotation by the engagement of a catch 7c on a roller 7a on the shaft 7c with one arm of a rock-shaft 7c, journaled in bear;

1 second arm 7c on the rock-shaft extends into the path of the arm 7r on the shaft h, before mentioned, and the shaft is rocked thereby, thus releasing the catch 76 and allowing the roller is to rotate in the direction of the arrow 2. A projection 7c on the roller 7c strikes the tail of the spring-catch I, re leasing the reservoir and allowing the support to tilt back into inoperative position.

The gearing of the shafts h, h, k, and 7c is so proportioned that an interval of approximately fifteen seconds intervenes between the striking of the depending arm f on the cigar-cutter and the releasing of the catch I from the reservoir, thus allowing ample time for the cigar to be lighted. The inner ends of the shafts 72/ and /c are extended beyond the bearings h and 70 to openings Z 7 in the sides of the box and squared to receive a key for Winding the springs, and the shaft 7c is provided with a governor 7b, of ordinary construction, to regulate the motion thereof.

In operation the cigar-tip is introduced into the opening in the box-top, depressing the plate g and releasing the stop g", thus allowing the spring to rotate the shaft h. The arm 7r strikes the depending arm ft, moving the cutter-blade to the rear and through the connectionf tilting forward the support B, igniting the wick and presenting the flame in position for lighting the cigar. The support is retained in its forward position until the continued rotation of the shaft h brings the arm 7L8 into contact with the forwardly-extending arm of the rock-shaft 70 thus rocking the shaft and releasing the catch 7c. The rotation. of the roller 7c brings the projection 7c into contact with the tail of the catch I and releases the reservoir, allowing the burner to tilt back under the hood 0.

It Will be evident from the description that my device is entirely automatic in its operation, performing its cycle of movements in proper sequence and always returning the burner into position. under the extinguishinghood, thus preventing waste of fuel from failure to extinguish the flame.

I do not choose to limit myself to the particular form of burner described, since it is obvious that any form of fluid-burner will serve equally well, nor to the shape of the reservoir, since the spring-catch might engage directly with the support instead of with the reservoir.

It is sometimes desirable to ignite the burner Without clipping the cigar, and for this purpose I provide the pin M, connected with the rock shaft G and extending upward through the box-top in front of the opening for the cigar end.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of abox provided witha slot, a burner-support pivotally mounted in the slot and provided with a reservoir at its lower end within the box, a burner on the support, a contact-point adjacent to the support, a contact-point supported above and in front of the first-named contact-point, an extinguisher supported above the burner, an electrical battery, a spark-coil, an electrical connection between the contact-points and including the battery and spark-coil, a cutter-plate for cutting cigar ends, slidably mounted on the lower face of the box-top beneath an opening therein adapted to receive the end of the cigar, a connection between the cutter-plate and the burner-support whereby the reciprocation of the latter will vibrate the former, a spring-actuated lug, means for restraining the movement of the lug, means whereby said restraining means may be released by the end of the cigar, means on the cutter-plate engaged by the lug, to move the plate rearwardly, and tilt the burner-support forwardly, means engaging the lower end of the burner-support to hold the parts in such position a spring-actuated lug for releasing said holding means, means for restraining the movement of the lug, and means whereby the first-named lug may release said restraining means.

2. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a burner, a swinging support for the burner, means for feeding the burner with fluid, means for igniting the burner comprising a contact-point on the burner, a contact-point adacent thereto, and in the path of travel of the contact-point on the burner, an open electrical circuit including a battery and a spark-coil, and closed by the conjunction of the contact-points. a cigarend-cutter plate slidably mounted beneath an opening in the box-top for receiving the end of the cigar to be cut, a connection between the cutter-plate and the swinging support, whereby the rearward movement of the cutter-plate swings the support forward, means for moving the cutter plate rear-- wardly, means for restraining said moving means, means whereby the cigar end in the opening in the box-top, may release said re straining means, means for holding the cutter-plate in its rearward position, moving means for releasing the holding means, means for restraining the movement of the releasing means, means whereby the cutter plate-moving means may release the restrain- IIO ing means, whereby the parts return to their normal position, and means for extinguishing the burner.

3. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of the box, a swinging support pivotally mounted in the box-top. a burner on the support, means for igniting and extinguishing the burner operated by the movement of the support, a cutter-plate i or clipping the ends of cigars movably mounted beneath an opening in the box-top, means whereby the rearward movement of the cutter-plate may swing the support forwardly, means to move the cutterplate rearwardly, means to restrain the cutter-plate-moving means, means whereby the cigar end may release the restraining means, means for holding the cutter-plate in its rearward position, moving means for releasing the holding means, means for restraining the movement of the releasing means, and means whereby the cutterplate-moving means may release the restraining means.

4. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a casing, a swinging support mounted in the top of the casing, and provided with a burner, means for igniting and extinguishing the burner operated by the movement of the support, a cutter-plate for cooperating with an opening in the casing, to clip the ends of cigars inserted through the opening, a connection between the cutterplate and the swinging support, whereby movement of the former imparts motion to the latter, means to move the plate rearwardly, means to restrain the moving means, means whereby the cigar end may release the restraining means, means to hold the cutterplate in its rearward position, moving means to release the holding means, means to restrain the releasing means, and means whereby the cutter-plate-actuating means may release the restraining means.

5. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a casing, a swinging sup port mounted in the top of the casing and provided with a burner, means for igniting and extinguishing the burner, operated by the movement of the swinging support, a cutter-plate cooperating with an opening in the casing to clip the ends of cigars inserted through the opening, means for actuating the swinging support from the movement of the cutterplate, normally inactive means for moving the cutter-plate rearwardly, means whereby the cigar end may actuate the cutter-plate-moving means, means for holding the cutter-plate in its rearward position, means for releasing said holding means, and means whereby the cutter-platemoving means may actuate the releasing means.

6. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter the combination of a casing, a swinging support mounted in the top of the casing and provided with a burner, means for igniting and extinguishing the burner operated by the swinging of the support, a cutter-plate cooperating with an opening in the casing to clip the end of a cigar inserted through the opening, means for actuating the swinging sup port synchronously with the cutter-plate, normally inactive means for moving the cutter-plate in one direction, means whereby the cigar end may actuate the cutter-plate-moving means, means for holding the cutter-plate at the end of its movement, normally inactive means for releasing the holding means, and means whereby the cutter-plate-moving means may actuate the releasing meansv 7. In a combined cigar cutter, and lighter, the combination of a swinging support pro vided with a burner, means for igniting and extinguishing the burner operated by the sw nging of the support, a cigarcutter for clipping the end of a cigar inserted in the cutter, means for actuating the cutter and 'for swinging the support forwardly, means for holding the support in its forward position, moving means for actuating the cutter and swinging the support and subsequently releasing the holding means, and means whereby said moving means, may be actuated by the insertion of the cigar end into the cutter.

8. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a swinging support, provided with a burner, a cigar-cutter for clipping the end of a cigar inserted in the cutter, a single means for actuating the cutter and for swinging the support in one direction, means for holding the support from swinging in the opposite direction, means for releasing the holding means, and means whereby the insertion of the cigar end into the cutter may actuate the cutter-actuating means, and the releasing means.

9. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a swinging support provided with a burner, means whereby the burner is ignited and extinguished by the swinging of the support, a cigarcutter for clipping the ends of cigars inserted in the cutter, means for synchronously actuating the cutter and swinging the support, and means whereby said means may be actuated by the insertion of the cigar end into the cutter.

10. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter, the combination of a support provided with a burner, a cigar-cutter for clipping the ends of cigars inserted into the cutter, means acting in sequence for actuating the cutter and igniting and extinguishing the burner, and means whereby the insertion of the cigar end into the cutter may actuate the said means.

11. In a combined cigar cutter and lighter the combination of a burner, means whereby to clip the end of a cigar, means whereby to ignite the burner, means to extinguish the burner, means actuating each of the said &

swinging of the support in one direction ignites the burner, means whereby the swinging of the support in the opposite direction eXtinguishes the burner, a cigar-cutter for clipping the end of a cigar inserted in the cutter, means for actuating the cutter and swinging the support, and means whereby the insertion of the cigar end into the cutter may actuate the last-named means.

WILLIAM HENRY CRAWFORD. Witnesses:

B. N. BooTI-I, JOHN PAYNE, Jr. 

